Hurricane-force winds, heavy rain hit Phoenix area

[DogPoundPup]

Source: peoplepc unlimited

PHOENIX - A series of fast-moving thunderstorms packing winds of up to 100 mph plowed through the Phoenix area, leaving tens of thousands without power, briefly shutting down the airport and ripping the roof off a brand-new college football facility.

There were no immediate reports of injuries from Thursday's storms.

Arizona Public Service Company said Friday morning it still had 32,000 customers without electricity, while Salt River Project estimated 11,000 of its customers were without power. At the height of the storm, about 100,000 homes and businesses without power.

Power for many downtown traffic signals was still out as the morning rush began, and some traffic delays were reported.

The storm swept into the city at about 9 p.m., dumping up to a 1 1/2 inches of rain and three-quarter-inch hail in some areas.

Sky Harbor International Airport was shut down for about an hour during the height of the storm, which blew out of the area by about midnight. Flight delays continued early Friday as crews worked to remove debris blown onto the runways.

National Weather Service meteorologist Leslie Wanek said Sky Harbor recorded peak winds of 75 mph, but radar indicated gusts of up to 100 mph in parts of the metro area.

In Tempe, Arizona State University officials said the storm damaged the school's new $8.4 million indoor practice facility that's mostly used for football.

Read more: http://home.peoplepc.com/psp/newsstory.asp?cat=national&id=20080829/48b77440_3421_1334520080829490125454

[JonLP24]

1. It was pretty bad last night

I didn't know it was that bad, definately heavy winds and rains.

I live in Phoenix

[kestrel91316]

2. That was God with a rather stern message for McSame.......

[cascadiance]

5. Hah! I just had exactly the same thought!

[JonLP24]

3. My mom asked me "You know what this storm means?"

I said "No", She said "Flooding."

[poverlay]

4. It was awesome! We sat and watched the most beautiful 4+ hour lightning show I have

ever seen. Not for a moment did it stop or even slow, and the colors, oh the colors. Red, greens, blue, yellow, purple and of course white/silver. It was a truly amazing show. On top of "the speech", I had a particularly moving evening.

The almighty approves of Obama, and so do I.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. The only things I miss about Phoenix

The friends I made, the love I lost, and the awe inspiring lightning displays.

[poverlay]

11. I've lived here all my life and I've never seen anything like it. It was really amazing...n/t

[tinrobot]

8. I love the way the desert smells after an August monsoon

That is one of the few things I miss about Arizona.

[midnight]

6. O no. I thought, as I was reading this, this storm was going on right now.

My youngest is just taking off from sky harbor as I type this.

[Alexander]

9. I briefly lost power on Thursday night.

Any time there's a big storm here the streets get all flooded.

[CreekDog]

10. Tucson was worse, they don't have storm drains, the rain flows down the middle of the street

:rofl: